Carton with easel-forming closure member



May 27, 1952 w, TURNER 2,598,149

CARTON WITH EASEL-FORMING CLOSURE MEMBER Filed Dec. 19, 1949 2 SI-IEETS-SHEET 1 AB KW May 27, 1952 w. E. TURNER CARTON WITH EASEL-FORMING CLOSURE MEMBER Filed Dec. 19, 1949 2 SI'IEEIS-SPEET 2 VIIII'IIIIIIII'IIII Patented May 27, 1952 CARTON WITH EASEL-FORMING CLOSURE MEMBER.

William E. Turner, Chattanooga, Tenn, assignor to 0. B. Andrews Company, Chattanooga, Tenn, a corporation of Tennessee Application December 19, 1949, Serial No. 133,751

6 Claims. I

This invention relates to cartons and more particularly to a carton for shipment, retention and subsequent display of articles, such as pencils for sale on a retail counter.

One object of the present invention is to provide a carton with a convenient closure therefor, the carton being adapted to retain and effectively protect, during handling and shipment, a plurality of articles such as mechanical pencils, and, after delivery of a filled carton to a retailer, to enable the user to employ the closure as an easel, thereby adapting the carton to be placed in an upright inclined position on a shelf or counter for display of the articles contained therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carton with a display opening in its front wall in combination with a hinged cover convertible to an easel, there being cooperating locking parts on the cover engageable within wall portion of the carton adjacent the display openingwhereby the cover may be held in closed position and readily released and shifted to its easel-forming position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carton made in the form of a shallow, collapsible tube whereby it may be shipped and stored in flat condition, the carton having cuts formed in its front wall and cooperating tabs on the rear wall so that portions of the front wall may be displaced and folded near its margins to form hollow sections with part of the displaced portions of the front wall secured flat against the rear wall, thus giving the carton, when opened, the appearance of a shallow tray with'hollow side walls at least over a part of the area of the carton.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tubular carton having narrow edge walls and relatively wide front and rear walls with a cutout portion in the front wall and having an article retaining panel across the front wall provided with guides for retention of articles such as pencils provided with clips so that the pencils, while within the carton, may be held in place by engagement of the clips with the retaining panel.

A still further object is to provide an attractive and generally improved form of carton of the type adapted for storage and subsequent counter display of any form of elongated articles such as pencils.

Other and more specific objects and advantages will be apparent in the following specification and in the claims appended thereto.

In the drawin s, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the-invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the carton as it 2 appears set up for use on a retailer's shelf or counter;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the carton in closed form, as it appears after being loaded with contents;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a blank from which the carton maybe formed; and

Fig. 6 is a plan View of an insert used within the carton.

In general the present invention, as herein disclosed, comprises a carton of tubular form, having relatively narrow edge walls and relatively wide and elongated front and rear Walls with a closure flap on an edge of the rear wall adapted to swing into overlying position against a major portion of the front wall, in which position it is adapted to be locked by outwardly extending cover portions engaged with edge portions of a cut-out display area in the front wall. The front wall is also formed with a retaining panel for holding articles within the container and on which articles such as pencils can be clipped. The portion of the front wall remote from the cut-out area is formed with cuts to provide displaceable portions that have part of their area secured flat against the rear wall and other parts of such portions are folded to simulate the inner wall of a hollow wall tray construction. The rear wall of the carton is provided with a tongue-receiving opening into which the end of a suitable tongue, struck from the central portion of the cover, is adapted to be received thereby to convert the cover into an easel.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the carton has a front wall portion indicated generally at It) and a rear Wall H, the two walls being connected at their edges by relatively narrow edge walls 12 and 13. Wall I2 is preferably integral with the front and rear walls as shown in Fig. 5. The wall 13 is illustrated as being secured to the rear Wall by a glue flap [4 integral with the edge of the rear wall. A top wall [5 is provided, which in the present instance, is formed integral with the rear wall II. On the outer edge of the top wall, and preferably integral therewith, is a closure member l5 that may be swung down and engaged against the outer surface of the front wall.

A bottom closure 18 is formed as an integral extension on the lower edge of the front wall which is adapted to contact inturned flaps l9 and on edge walls I2 and I3. The closure I8 has a tuck flap 2| on its outer edge which is adapted to be inserted into the carton, when closed, to lie against the inner surface of the rear wall I I. From the description thus far it is clear that the connected. front, rear and edge walls, being in tubular form, may be collapsed fiat for storage and shipment.

The front wall II) of the carton is so modified and shaped that when the carton is open and viewed from the front, it will simulate a relatively shallow tray. For this purpose the lower part of the front wall, as viewed in Fig. l, is provided with an opening 23, preferably formed by die-cutting the front wall so as to leave relatively narrow lateral edge portions 24 and 25 and a narrow lower edge portion 26.

The upper part of the front wall is provided with an opening which is preferably formed by displacing portions of the front wall. To effect this a lateral cut, indicated at 28, is made along a line spaced from the upper edge of opening 23, thus forming a transverse article retaining portion 29. A second cut 38 is made extending upward from out 28, preferably, although not neces sarily, centrally of the length of such cut. The cut preferably extends to the upper edge of the front wall. The two cuts, 28 and 30, thus release front wall portions which form two swingable flap sections. These sections, in the present instance, are made symmetrical.

The flap sections are preferably formed with two parts, 3| and 32. Each part 3| is formed so as to be swingable freely on the front wall along a crease line 33 dividing the part 3| from a relatively narrow edge panel, indicated at 34, which is part of the front wall I0. An additional crease line 35 is preferably impressed in each fiap section to define parts 3| and 32 from each other.

The parts 3 I ,3I are each made of a width which is preferably commensurate with the width of the edge walls I2 and I3. By folding the parts 3| inwardly toward the rear wall it will be seen that such parts will simulate inwardly disposed wall portions in the upper end portion of the carton, as illustrated in Fig. 1, and will thus make this portion of the carton appear as a tray with hollow walls.

By reference to Fig. 1 it is to be observed that when the parts 3| are folded inwardly, the connected parts 32 tend to be disposed more or less flatwise against the rear wall. Means are provided for retaining the parts 3| in their hollow-wall-forming position. For this purpose the inwardly directed edges of the parts 32 are preferably engaged and held against the rear wall by shallow flaps or tongues 36,36 formed by cutting arcuate slits 31,31 in the rear wall. See Figures 1 and 5. The edges of parts 32 are inserted beneath the shallow flaps causing the parts 3| in the present instance to be held at right angles to the rear and front walls with an edge of each part 3| resting against the rear wall.

For the purpose of reinforcing and stiffening the rear wall and also to enhance the appearance of the carton a liner member 4|] is preferably employed. As suggested in the relative arrangement of Figs. 5 and 6 this liner member can be nested, if desired, with the blank for the carton so that a relatively high measure of economy in the cutting of the stock may be achieved. The liner 4D is formed with a reduced upper end portion providing upper inset edges 4|,4I which, as shown in Fig. 1, are adapted to fit relatively closely against the parts 3 I ,3I forming the inner panel of the hollow wall portions.

The lower edges 42,42 of the part 4|! are preferably separated by a distance equal to the interior Width of the carton between edge walls I2 and I4. When the liner member 40 is in place within the carton the upper edges 4| will serve as a spacing element or as one additional retaining means for holding the inner wallforming parts 3|,3I in the desired position. As the liner member is preferably formed from paperboard having a finished side suitable for printing, the finished side will preferably be exposed when the liner is in place, thus giving the interior of the carton a finished and pleasing appearance when viewed through the openings in the front wall.

Means are provided for retaining the closure member I6 against the front wall I0 and also preventing slipping of the closure with respect to such wall. For this purpose the lower end portion of the closure is formed with one or more tabs engageable with parts of the front wall. In the present instance slits 43, 43 are cut inward from the outer edges of the closure It to form tabs or flaps 44 and 45 which are adapted to be engagedbeneath the edge portions 24 and 25 of the front wall-see Fig. 2. In order to prevent upward slipping of the closure an inwardly directed part 46 is formed on one of the edge portions of the front wall, herein illustrated as portion 25. The lower edge of part 45 is adapted to engage the upper edge of the tab 45 and securely retain the closure in fixed relation to the top wall It]. By somewhat rounding the end of tab 45 the tab may be started in its edgewise engagement with the edge of part 46 while the closure is rather loosely placed over the front wall I0 but, as the tab 45 is moved to its final position, the edge of the tab defined by the slit 43 will come in contact with the edge of part 46 and will tend to draw the closure snugly over the front wall.

The part '46 may also be employed as a part of the design of the front wall in which case it will be cut in such manner as to have a pleasing and artistic appearance. This part also may carry printing to harmonize with its particular configuration.

If desired, the lower edge of the closure panel may be provided with a curved cut-out portion 48 to facilitate detachment of the cover from its engaged position with respect to the front wall edge portions.

In order to enable the cover I6 to be converted readily into'an easel, it is provided with an elongated tongue 49 formed by slitting the cover panel around three sides of the tongue and impressing a crease line as indicated at 50 so that the tongue may be folded readily with respect to the panel I6. In practice, the tongue 49 is preferably retained in place until needed by interrupting the slits to provide several small retaining portions between the edges of the slit and the panel. The tongue 49 is receivable into a suitable slit 5| formed in the rear wall. The end of the tongue 49 is preferably foldable along a crease line 52 thereby facilitating its downward insertion in the slit 5| and providing a stop for angular support to the easel.

The transverse out 28 is preferably formed with a wavy edge which facilitates the positioning of clipped pencils on the retaining panel 29.

The cartons are preferably formed at the -carton manufacturing plant in a collapsible tubular condition in which the strip I4 will be adhesively attached to the inner face of the edge wall l3.

The cartons are delivered in such collapsible condition to the user. When it is desired to fill the cartons with pencils or similar articles, the carton will be moved to an expanded condition and the parts 3| and 32 will be displaced rearwardly from the front wall with the edges of the parts 32 engaged behind the shallow tongues 36 in the rear wall. The panel 40 will then be inserted upwardly through the bottom opening so that it will be received entirely within the carton and will have its upper reduced end portion engaged between the parts 3|. In such position it will serve as an additional retaining means for the parts 3| and will also mask the inner face of the rear wall so as to give the carton a pleasing, finished appearance as illustrated in Fig. 1. The carton is now ready to receive its contents which, in the case of clipped pencils, will be engaged in a row behind the retaining panel 29. After the carton has been loaded with contents, the cover panel will be brought down over the top of the front wall and the flaps 44 and 45 will be engaged beneath the edge portions of the front wall which define the edges of the display opening. By reason of the inwardly extended tab element 46, which engages edgewise against the flap 45, the cover will be held from slipping upward. The edge flaps l9 and 20 may then be folded in, the bottom wall I8 brought to closed position with the tuck flap 21 inserted within the carton. As thus filled and closed the carton is ready for delivery to the retailer.

When it is desired to open the carton and display its contents, it is only necessary to disengage the lower edge of the cover and swing the cover back to easelforming position and then insert the locking tongue 49 into the slit 5| in the rear wall. The filled carton may then be placed upright upon any convenient flat surface, such as a counter or showcase, where the pencils or other articles contained therein may be attractively displayed to the retail trade.

While the present description sets forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, certain changes may be made in the construction without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A display carton for clipped pencils and similar articles, said carton comprising front, rear and relatively narrow edge walls hinged together and secured in collapsible, tubular form, the front wall being formed with an opening therein having its side edges spaced somewhat from the line of juncture of the front wall and edge walls, a part of the front Wall remote from the opening being slit transversely and longitudinally and creased to provide two swingable sections hinged respectively along fold lines spaced inwardly from the edges of the front wall, each section having a second fold line parallel to the first fold line and spaced therefrom a distance commensurate with the width of the adjacent edge wall to define an inner edge wall forming portion which may be folded to meet the rear wall, the remaining portion of each section being adapted to lie fiat against the rear wall and extend inwardly, and outwardly directed locking tabs struckfrom the rear wall and engageable respectively over the adjacent free edge of one of the sections to retain each of the sections in place for simulating hollow wall portions of a shallow tray.

2. A carton adapted to retain and display pencils and similar articles in upright position, said carton comprising spaced front and rear walls, relatively narrow edge walls joining the side edges of the front and rear walls, the upper part of the front wall being cut on a transverse line terminating at points spaced inwardly from the line of juncture of the front and edge walls at each side of the carton, said front wall being also cut centrally on a line extending downwardly to meet the first cut to form two movable sections, each of such sections comprising an inner wall-forming portion swingable rearward from the plane of the front wall to meet the rear wall and a second portion adapted to lie fiat against the rear wall, and tabs struck from the rear wall engageable with the inwardly directed edges of the second portions for retaining such portions against inward movement, whereby the inner wall-forming portions are retained in engage: ment with the rear wall.

3. A carton adapted to retain and display clipped pencils and similar articles in upright position, said carton comprising spaced front and rear walls, relatively narrow edge walls joining the side edges of the front and rear walls, the front Wall being formed With a display opening in its lower portion whereby an edge portion is provided which is spaced somewhat inwardly from the line of juncture of the front wall and an edge wall, a closure panel hinged to the rear wall foldable over the upper edge of the front wall and being so dimensioned as to extend substantially over the opening with a portion overlying said inwardly directed front wall edge portion, and an outwardly directed locking tab formed on said closure panel portion engageable behind the inwardly directed edge portion of the front wall.

4. A carton adapted to retain and display clipped pencils and similar articles in upright position, said carton comprising spaced front and rear walls, relatively narrow edge walls joining the side edges of the front and rear walls, the front wall being formed with a display opening in its lower portion whereby an edge portion is provided which is spaced somewhat inwardly from the line of juncture of the front wall and an edge wall, a closure panel hinged to the rear wall, foldable over the upper edge of the front wall and having a length sufficient to extend substantially to the lower edge of the display opening, the panel having a width greater than the display opening, and being formed near its outer free edge with an outwardly directed locking tab portion engageable behind the inwardly directed edge portion of the front wall defining an edge of the display opening, a tab portion on the front wall extending inwardly along a line closely adjacent to the upper edge of the locking tab on the closure panel adapted to engage the upper edge of such locking tab and prevent upward displacement of the cover relative to the front wall.

5. A carton adapted to retain and display pencils and similar articles in upright position, said carton comprising spaced front and rear walls, relatively narrow edge walls joining the side edges of the front and rear walls, the upper part of the front wall being cut on a transverse line terminating at points spaced inwardly from the line,- of. juncture of the front wall and edge walls at; each side of the carton, said front wall also.- hav-ing; a cut extending downwardly to meet he first. cut to form two movable sections, each of such sections comprising an inner wall forming portion swingable rearward from the plane oi the. front Wall; to meet the rear wall and a secend portion adapted to lie flat against the rear wall and extend inwardly, a combination lining and spacing element adapted to be disposed inside the carton, such element having outer edge portions of; a. width so that it will engage the inner surfaces of the edge walls, the lateral edges of the lining and spacing element being cut away on each side so that. the upper portion of such element is reduced in width where the edges of such element are engageable with the movable sections of the front wall which extends between the front wall and the rear wall so as to hold such sections in position, the rear facing of the lining and spacing element being engageable fiatwise against. the second portions of the two movable sections attached to the front wall.

6. A carton adapted to retain and display elongated articles, comprising spaced front and rear walls, relatively narrow edge walls joining the side edges of the front and rear walls, a display opening in the lower portion of the front wall having a side edge defined by a wall portion extending inwardly from an adjacent edge wall, a transverse cut in the upper portion of the front wall terminating at points spaced inwardly of the side edges thereof and a longitudinal cut extending from the upper end of the front wall to the transverse out and providing therewith a pair of movable sections, each of such sections comprising an inner wall portion swingable along a line spaced inwardly from the adjacent side edge of the front wall to engage edgewise against the rear wall anda second portion hinged to the inner wall pQrtion adapted to lie flat against the rear wall and extend inwardly, retaining means engageable with said sections to hold the inner wall portions in said engagement withthe rear wall, a combination closure and easel panel hinged to the rear wall foldable over the top of the front wall and so dimensioned as to substantially cover the opening with a portion adapted to overlie the inwardly extending front wall portion, a locking tab adjacent the free end of the panel engageable under said inwardly extending wall portion, said panel also being foldable to extend in easelforming position at an angle to the rear wall, an elongated tongue struck from the panel, and a slit in the rear wall adapted to receive the end of the tongue for securing the panel in predetermined angular relation, to the rear wall.

WILLIAM E. TURNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file, of; this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 356,806 Tribe Feb. 1, 1887 677,108 Weis June 25, 1901 2,011,410 Jones Aug. 13, 1935 2,503,379 Davis Apr. 11, 1950 

